The U.S. Safety Net and Obesity

Obesity rates have risen drastically over the past 25 years. The most recent statistics show that over one third of adults are obese and over one third of children are either overweight or obese. The obesity epidemic has disproportionately affected low-income individuals and minorities. Popular media, policy experts, and researchers have all suggested that participation in U.S. safety net programs may contribute to this health disparity and redesigning certain programs may mitigate the impact. Some safety net programs provide either cash or in-kind assistance that expands households' budgets, enabling households to spend more money on food. Higher food expenditure can either translate into an increase in calories or consumption of better quality food. Other safety net programs have the ability to educate participants about health behaviors. The overall effect of participation in safety net programs on weight is theoretically ambiguous. This dissertation adds to the literature by exploring the relationship between safety net participation and obesity within two particularly vulnerable populations, children and Mexican-origin women.;This dissertation is organized into three separate essays. The first essay uses National Longitudinal Survey of Youth Child and Mother data to examine the effect of Head Start participation on childhood weight outcomes. This essay uses sibling comparisons to determine the impact of Head Start on children's Body Mass Index (BMI) z-scores as well as overweight and obesity status at ages 5/6 and 9/10. Empirical results show that while Head Start has limited effect on weight outcomes within the general population, the program is associated with a reduction in overweight and obesity among white and Hispanic children. Black Head Start children, on the other hand, are more likely to be overweight and obese at ages 5/6 than their non-Head Start peers. There is some evidence that Head Start influences weight outcomes through parental learning and shaping of children's preferences and behavior.;The second and third essays use partial baseline data from Ninos Sanos, Familia Sana (NSFS), a 5 year, multi-intervention, research project aimed at preventing childhood obesity. Non-citizen immigrants face a different set of policies and circumstances than the general population when choosing to participate in the U.S. safety net. The second essay looks at take-up of safety net programs among low-income Mexican-origin families with children. I find that this population has high participation rates in child focused programs. Furthermore, factors related to transaction costs and fear of immigration consequences do not deter this population from taking up safety net programs. Stigma may be a deterrent from entering certain "welfare" programs.;The third essay analyzes the relationships between program participation, food choices, and obesity among low-income Mexican-origin women. This chapter specifically considers the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and explores whether the portfolio of programs households participate in is related to food expenditure and weight. SNAP receipt is associated with larger overall food expenditures as well as higher spending within the meat and non-perishable sub-categories. After accounting for SNAP participation, TANF participation is also associated with larger food expenditure (double the difference associated with SNAP) and the higher spending is across the fruit and vegetable, dairy, junk food, and non-perishable sub-categories. Neither program is associated with a statistically significant difference in BMI.;Overall, the results of this dissertation suggest that that participants and non-participants differ in important ways that may also be related to weight. However, participation in safety net programs does not conclusively increase weight and involvement may even have the ability to improve health behaviors among certain sub-groups.